We can all feel lonely and isolated at times and those feelings can be more intense and devastating if you are also facing financial hardship.

Aberdeen North and South Foodbanks have come together, with funding from the Trussell Trust, to provide a financial resilience service where individuals who require a food parcel can receive money, debt, and energy advice. Aberdeen Citizen Advice Bureau will provide this advice.

This service which will support those struggling with financial hardship will be supported by our Befriending Project. Volunteer befrienders will encourage those referred, to engage with the wider project.

Our aim is to ensure that our trained and compassionate volunteers provide a lifeline to people, in the form of friendship and offer a helping hand to enable them to engage with the financial support on offer.

If you would like to be a part of this holistic service, please apply to become a Volunteer Befriender.

Activities include:
• To befriend individuals who have used the food bank and who require financial/energy advice from Citizens Advice Bureau advisors and who would benefit from someone to accompany them to their appointment.
• To participate in the TLC Volunteer befriender induction programme, and ad hoc training throughout the year as and when required.
• To attend 3 monthly volunteer supervision sessions.
• Commit to a regular 1hr 30min befriending session each week.
• To establish and maintain appropriate boundaries within the befriending relationship.
• To ensure that confidentiality is always upheld and be willing to report any concerns, including safeguarding issues to the project co-ordinator.
• To work within a non-discriminatory framework.
• TLC are looking for befrienders to ideally commit to the project for at least 12months.
*(Note: Volunteer befrienders will not be asked or required to meet any personal care needs.)

Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers. Includes two core training nights which gives befrienders the knowledge and skills required before starting, as well as continuous training every few months to build on befriender knowledge and skills. Our Befriending Coordinator will also walk beside you every step of the way and will offer step-by-step support, as well as formal supervision every three months.

All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. For further information please email us at volunteer@tlc.org.uk

Our statistics have revealed that 218,000 over 50s in Scotland say they feel lonely all or most of the time. As people get older, it can be harder to maintain social connections. Retirement, bereavement or moving somewhere new can leave people feeling lonely and isolated.

That’s where you come in!

The Age Scotland Community Connecting Service aims to connect older people across Scotland to social groups and clubs in their local community. To assist in this we have great opportunities to help in the following ways:

• Community Connectors: Further information 
• Community Researchers: Further information

Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers. Includes full training and ongoing support for the duration of your volunteering with Age Scotland. Volunteer’s can also access other Age Scotland workshops free of charge- including Dementia Awareness (CPD accredited) and Older Veterans’ Awareness sessions.

ClubSport Aberdeen is a vibrant body directed by the clubs, for the clubs. As an independent charity, we provide a unified voice for sport clubs in Aberdeen at the top level across the city through our relationship with the Active Aberdeen Partnership.

Our purpose is not only to provide the AAP with club input and a club perspective on arising matters, but also to ensure that Aberdeen has safe, sustainable and supported clubs. It does so by using expertise from within the club network as well as from partners in the wider network. This gives Aberdeen’s clubs the ability to develop and grow their membership, workforce and structure to provide their members with the best possible experience of the sport.

Membership is open to all clubs across Aberdeen, and generally around 70-80 clubs register with us on an annual basis.

The board of Club Sport Aberdeen is made up of a board of volunteer trustees who meet regularly to discuss programmes and initiatives that will benefit sports clubs across the city, which includes projects such as the North East Youth Panel and Active Schools Voucher projects.  However, we would be keen to support clubs to deliver projects that also impact on mental health, increasing confidence and breaking down barriers to access sport and physical activity.

The board currently have vacancies for Vice Chair, Treasurer and Welfare Officer positions to support the work of the board and various projects, with the Vice Chair and Treasurer positions also being charity trustee positions.

• TREASURER – Oversee all financial aspects of ClubSport Aberdeen and be responsible for regular reporting to the ClubSport Board and help submit annual reporting to OSCR.
• VICE CHAIR – support and deputise for the Chairperson in leading ClubSport Aberdeen in developing and delivering its objectives.
• WELFARE OFFICER – responsible for promoting safeguarding throughout ClubSport Aberdeen and working with others to ensure a safe and inclusive environment is achieved.

Board meetings take place on a bi-monthly basis, with other meetings scheduled as required.  Time commitment would generally be 2-3 hours per month, depending on the meeting cycle and membership processing.

Excellent support and relevant training is provided to all volunteers. Induction will be completed by Chair of the Board, and / or Support Officer from Sport Aberdeen.  Volunteers will be given ongoing support to allow them to feel comfortable to undertake their roles.  We are a friendly bunch!

A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference for club and grassroots community sport in Aberdeen. All help is greatly appreciated.